Fan assembly



H. A. MEYER Julylfi, 1957 FAN ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 25. 1955 [NVENTOR. H/m/w 4 Maya? BY A 5M/TH, 045m K0776 H. A. MEYER FAN ASSEMBLY Jul 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25. 1955 IN V EN TOR. Hams 4. M: van

5mm 0155M K075 A 7' TORNEFS July 16, 1957 H. A. MEYER 2,799, FAN ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HAIR)?! A Musk 5mm 015m M275 14 TTORNEVS ilited States atent Office FAN ASSEMBLY Harry A. Meyer, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 25, 1955, Serial No. 490,501 7 Claims. (Cl. 230-273) Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a fan assembly wherein the fan wheel mounting mechanism is of such design as to require a minimum number of high precision surfaces whereby to reduce the ultimate cost of constructing the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fanassembly wherein a simplified mechanism is utilized for mounting the fan wheel bearings.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a fan assembly wherein installation of the fan wheeluand' its bearings is easilyand economically effected through use of a combined spacer and hub member.

Another object of the invention is to provide afan assembly wherein the fan wheel and motor therefor are supported on common bracket elements, whereby to reduce the ultimate cost of constructing the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fan; assembly wherein the mechanisms for supporting the fan wheel motor are simple but rigid elements. 1

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description, and appended claims,,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is an end view of one embodiment of. the

invention taken in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2. V

Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view taken in the same .direc-. tion as Figurel but with parts broken away for illustration purposes.

Figure 4 is a View of another embodiment of the inventiontaken in the direction of arrow C in FigureS but with certain parts broken away for illustration purposes.

Figure 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in Figure 4.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 there will be seen to have been provided a generally rectangular casing 1 having secured 16 engages face 34, and then tightening set screw 96 thereto a bracket 2 comprised of bars 3 of channel crosssection. The intermediate portions of bars 3 have secured thereacross a plate 4 which is provided with a dished out or recessed wall portion 5. Portion 5 is apertured at 6 for receiving a sleeve 7. The right end 9 of sleeve 7 is of reduced thickness whereby to provide a shoulder 8 for abutting against the left face of a plate. 10, after which the reduced portion 9 is flanged outwardly into clamping engagement with the right face of plate 10 so as to non-rotatably secure sleeve 7 on plates 4 and 10. The lower ends 11 and 12 of plates 4 and 10 are turned outwardly into alignment with each other whereby to provide mounting portions for an electric motor 13.

Positioned within sleeve 7 is a shaft 15 held in place We set screw 96. Shaft 15 has secured thereon two bearing assemblies 16 and 17. Bearing assemblies 16 and 17 may both be sealed units or the area 33 between the assemblies may be used for retaining lubricant. The innerbearing of assembly 16 abuts against the end face 34 of sleeve 9 and the outer bearing of assembly 16 abuts against a shoulder 18 formed by a recess 38 in the right end of a hub 19. The left end of hub 19 is recessed at 39 whereby to form a second shoulder 20 which abuttingly engages an edge portion of the outer bearing of assembly 17. The inner bearing of assembly 17 abuttingly engages a snap ring 32 which is positioned in a groove 21 cut in the periphery of shaft 15.

The right end of hub 19 is of reduced thickness whereby .to form a shoulder 24 for abutting against the left face of a sheave 25. Sheave 25 is fixedly secured on hub 19 by flanging reduced end portion 26 of the hub out into clamping engagement with the right face ofthe sheave.

The left end of hub 19 is of reduced thickness whereby I to provide a shoulder 27 for'seating a spider element 28 on the hub. Reduced end portion 29 of the hub is rolled over into clamping engagement with the left face of spider element 28 so as to fixedly secure said element on the hub. Spider element 28 has secured thereto a plurality of fan blades 30 whereby to form a fan wheel 31.

The sequence of operations whereby to form the completed fan assembly may be varied but one sequence of operations which may be employed includes first securing sleeve 7 on plates 4 and 10 (by rolling flange 9 over into clamping engagement with plate 10), positioning snap ring 32 on shaft 15, positioning assembly 17 against snap ring 32, securing spider element 28 and sheave 25 on hub 19, sliding hub 19 along shaft 15 until shoulder 20 engages the outer bearing of assembly 17, positioning assembly 16 on shaft 15 and against shoulder 18, inserting shaft 15 in sleeve 7 until the inner bearing of assembly down whereby to retain the components in their assem bled positions.

When the fan assembly is in operation motor 13 will be energized so as to rotate sheave 25 (through a smaller sheave 35 and belt 36), whereby to turn hub 19 and fan blades 30 as a unit around the axes of fixed shaft 15 and fixed sleeve 7.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a casing 41 having secured thereto a bracket element 42 of generally channel shaped cross section. For strengthening purposes element 42 is provided with embossed or raised sections 43 and 44. Element 42 has secured thereto a plate 45 which is provided with a pair of flanged end portions 46 and 47 whereby to secure said plate on element 42. Strengthening flanges 48 are provided on the lateral edges of plate 45. Horizontal portion 49 of plate 45 has secured thereto a horizontal band 50 having its opposite end portions 51 and 52 secured on the opposite walls of casing 41. Band 50 provides a mounting surface for an electric motor 53 as well as a reinforcement for plate 45.

Inclined portion 54 of plate 45 is provided with a proiecting wall portionr55 having an aperture ,56 therein for the reception of a shaft 57. Shaft 57 extends from well 55 through a sleeve 58 and carrie two bearing assemblies (59, and a' second bearing assembly similar to assembly 17 but not shown). A hub 61 is secured over assemblies .59 and said second bearing assembly in the same Way that hub 19 is secured over assemblies 16 and 17; A spider and fanblade. assembly 62, 63 is secured on hub 61- in the same way that spider and fan blade assembly 28, 30 is secured on hub 19.

securement together of the various component parts whereby to .form the completed fan assembly may be accomplished inthe same. way as with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 through 3.

Whenthe- Figure 4fan assembly is in operationrnotor 53 will be. energized so as to rotate a sheave 64 (througha smallershcave- 65 and belt 66), whereby to turn hub 61 and fan blades 63' asa unit around the axes of'fixed shaft and: fixed sleeve 58.

.Both embodiments of the invention provide fan-assemblies; wherein a minimum number of surfaces need be held to close tolerances. The only precision dimensions are the inner diameter of the sleeve, the diameter of the shaft, and the dimension of recesses 38, 39. The bearing assemblies are easily installed and automatically held in their correct axial" positions by the hub and sleeve elements. The shaft in each case is easily mounted in place andw'hile it is supported incantilever fashion in itssleeve.

element still thereis no tendency for it to be displaced radially because it is provided with two spaced pointsof support, at 5, inthe- Figure 1 embodiment and at 55, 67 in the Figure'4 embodiment. the draft-supporting brackets are constructed integrally with the motor-supporting elements whereby to provide a simplified and rigid construction.

Iclaim-a l. A fan assembly comprising a casing, bracket means extending across said casing, a sleeve fixedly secured in said bracket means, a shaft fixedly but adjustably secured in said sleeve and having a free unsupported end portion projecting therefrom, a hollow hub encircling said free endportion and having end portions of its inner surface recessed to provide two oppositely facing shoulders, a bearing assembly engaging one of said shoulders and an end face of the sleeve,- another anti-friction bearing assembly-engaging the other shoulder, and a plurality of fanblades; projecting. from said hub.

2-. A fan assembly comprising a casing, bracket means extending across the axis of said casing, said bracket meansincluding a first plate, a second plate extending at an acute angle awayfrom said first plate and then at right-angles to and toward said first plate whereby to provide a motor-supporting wall, a portion of said second plate being bent into spaced parallelism with said first. plate, a sleeve extending through said first plate and, fixedly secured thereon, a shaft, extending through said bent portion andsleeve and having a free. unsupported end portion, a hollow hub encircling said free. end por- In both embodimentstion and having end portions of its inner surface recessed to provide two oppositely facing. shoulders, a hearing. assembly between one of said shoulders and an end face of the sleeve, another bearing assembly engaging the other shoulder, and a pluarlity of fan blades projecting from said hub.

3. A fan assembly comprising a casing; bracket means across the axis of said casing, said bracket means including two plate members facially connected to one another but diverging. away frorntheir connected surfacesto provide two axially spaced wall portions; an axially extending sleeve; a shaft partially within said sleeve and having a free unsupported end portion projected therefrom; said sleeve and shaft being fixed mounted in said axially spaced wall portions; at least one of the plate members having a portion bent into an axial direction to form a motor support; a hub encircling the free end portion of the shaft; a plurality of fanblades radiating from said hub; and a sheave fixedly mounted on said hub.

4. A fanassembly comprising a casing; bracket means extending across the axis of said casing; sai-d. bracket means including a first plate member recessed in an axial direction and provided with a right angularly turned end portion, a second plate member facially connected to the first plate member and having a plate portion diverging away therefrom, the extreme. endportion of said second plate member being turned into alignment with the angularly turned end portion of the first plate member whereby said end portions may serve as a motor support mechanism; a sleeve extending through the recessed portion of thefirstplate member into fixed securement with a portion of the second plate member; a shaft partially within said sleeve and having a free unsupported end portion projecting therefrom; a hub encircling the free end portion of the shaft for rotatable movement therearound; a plurality of fan blades radiating from the hub; and asheave fixedly secured on the hub.

5. A fan assembly comprising a casing, bracket means extending across the axis of said casing, said bracket means including a first plate, a second plate extending at an acute angle away from said first plate and then at right angles to and toward said first plate whereby to provide a motor-supporting wall, a portion of said second plate being bent into spaced parallelism with said first plate, a sleeve extending through said first plate and fixedly secured thereon, a shaft extending through said bent portion and sleeve and having a free unsupported end' portion, a hub encircling the freeend portion of the shaft for rotatable movement therearound; a plurality of fan blades radiating from the hub; and a sheave fixedly connected to the hub.

Referencesv Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,108,738 Allen Feb. 15, 1938 2,385,152 Morrison Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,480 Great Britain June 19, 1935 

